Choosing The Right Toothbrush

Your dentist told you to brush two to three times a day. But is that toothbrush getting the job done?

There's an entire aisle devoted to the toothbrush and the varieties are endless. But when it comes to electric or the standard way, which is best?Dentists can actually tell what kind of toothbrush you use and whether it has hard or soft bristles - with just a peak in your mouth.

Berdahl says certain electric toothbrushes can reduce the wear a standard toothbrush can leave on your teeth. And reducing wear reduces gum disease and decay. Berdahl says the electric toothbrush is doing a tremendous service for patients.

He said, "It takes the need for technique out of your hands and takes care of the technique, all you have to do is point it."

And even though you brush your teeth when you wake up and before you go to bed, Berdahl says using a standard toothbrush the wrong way can actually work against you.

"If they've been abrasive in their toothbrush technique and exposed those roots they are really susceptible to decay," said Berdahl.Making the change to an electric brush may mean investing a little more into your teeth. But Berdahl says in the long run, you'll get your money's worth.

"I think its very economical to get a toothbrush that's effective in cleaning because if you're able to save yourself some treatment be it a filling because of a cavity somewhere or gum disease it will more than pay for itself," he said.

But before you toss your standard toothbrush you can always check with your own dentist, after all they know your teeth best!